Financial Sector Review: Humana Numbers Up, Lazard Earnings

Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM): Individual Medicare Advantage membership was 1,640,300 at December 31, 2011, an increase of 179,600 members, or 12% from 1,460,700 at December 31, 2010. January 2012 individual Medicare Advantage membership approximated 1,813,000, up approximately 173,000 from December 31, 2011. Membership in the company’s individual stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans was 2,540,400 at December 31, 2011, up 870,100 or 52% compared to 1,670,300 at December 31, 2010.

The shares closed at $85.25, down $4.87, or 5.4%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $13.94 billion.

Lazard Ltd (NYSE:LAZ) financial position remains strong and low risk with approximately $1B in cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2011, the majority of which is invested in U.S. Government and agency money market funds.

The shares closed at $27.67, down $1.22, or 4.22%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $3.40 billion.

Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) has pulled out of the sale of its U.K. and Ireland credit-card business, reports the Wall Street Journal, citing a person familiar with the matter. It’s unclear why the sale fell through and a Bank of America spokesman declined to comment.

The shares closed at $7.97, up $0.13, or 1.66%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $83.97 billion.

Citigroup Inc’s (NYSE:C) China unit received regulatory approval to issue credit cards in China, the first non-Asian bank to receive permission, and said it would likely launch credit card operations this year.

The shares closed at $33.30, down $0.24, or 0.72%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $97.37 billion.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS): California is close to agreeing to the main points of a settlement reached by the Obama administration with the nation’s banks over improper mortgage foreclosure procedures, The New York Times reported yesterday. New York’s attorney general indicated that he has moved closer to signing off on the deal, the newspaper added.

JPM shares closed at $38.14, down $0.14, or 0.37%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $143.89 billion.

WFC shares closed at $30.20, down $0.43, or 1.4%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $158.93 billion.

MS shares closed at $20.51, up $0.2, or 0.98%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $39.52 billion.